Press Release

PUC Appoints Mary Beth O’Hara Osborne as Director of Regulatory Affairs

Published on 4/3/2014

Filed under: Electric Gas Water and Wastewater Telecommunications Transportation and Safety

HARRISBURG -- The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today appointed Mary Beth O’Hara Osborne of Cumberland County to the position of Director of Regulatory Affairs.

Osborne will begin her new post on May 5 after concluding nearly nine years as Legal Counsel to PUC Commissioner James H. Cawley.  She will report to Executive Director Jan Freeman and oversee the following five Bureaus, staffed by more than half of the Commission’s nearly 500 employees:  the Office of Administrative Law Judge; the Bureau of Audits; the Bureau of Consumer Services; the Office of Special Assistants; and the Bureau of Technical Utility Services.  

“Mary Beth’s enthusiasm, commitment to the PUC’s mission, and extensive utility and management experience make her a perfect choice for this position,” Chairman Robert F. Powelson said.  “As we move our agency forward, and continue to address new and challenging issues, the PUC could not be more pleased to welcome Mary Beth Osborne as our new Director of Regulatory Affairs.” 

Osborne joined Cawley’s staff in 2005 and served as his Legal Counsel during his former roles as Chairman and Vice Chairman, and now as Commissioner.

Osborne gained significant management experience in her prior role as Chief Deputy Attorney General, with the Charitable Trusts and Organizations Section of the state Office of Attorney General, where she built and managed a team of lawyers, accountants, financial investigators, paralegals, secretaries and other support staff in three regional offices. 

She also previously served as Assistant Counsel and Supervisor of Special Education at the state Department of Education, and as a Law Clerk for the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Middle District of Pennsylvania.

Osborne received her bachelor’s degree in government and secondary education from St. Mary’s College in Notre Dame, IN, and her law degree from Dickinson School of Law in Carlisle, Cumberland County.  

Osborne currently lives in Camp Hill with her husband Kevin E. Osborne, Esq.  They have four children.

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission balances the needs of consumers and utilities; ensures safe and reliable utility service at reasonable rates; protects the public interest; educates consumers to make independent and informed utility choices; furthers economic development; and fosters new technologies and competitive markets in an environmentally sound manner.

For recent news releases and video of select Commission proceedings or more information about the PUC, visit our website at www.puc.pa.gov.  Follow the PUC on Twitter – @PA_PUC for all things utility.  “Like” PAPowerSwitch on Facebook for easy access to information on electric shopping.

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Contact:

• Tom Charles
  Director of Communications
  717-787-9504
  thcharles@pa.gov